Dog owners: 4th of July PSA

[ejs]

Hi,

Please remember that a lot of dogs get freaked out by fireworks. It's recommended that you keep your dogs indoors tonight, whether you're home or not. It's not unheard of for frightened dogs to do anything to get out of their yards and run, due to fear.

When the noises start, consider giving your dog a toy or treat that will keep him/her focused for a bit. We usually give femur bones stuffed with cheese or peanut butter, or rawhides. Some people also turn their TV or radio up to try to cover the sound of fireworks.

Just some thoughts...

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

Thanks for posting this... We were actually thinking about bringing our dog to the fireworks show, not even thinking that it might be frightening for him! I think now we'll leave him at home with "Law & Order" re-runs to watch and a peanut-butter stuffed Kong instead. :)

[karlatta]

Thanks for posting. One of our dogs likes watching fireworks - he sits and stares at the sky. The other one's new, though, so we'll probably keep her inside.

[ejs]

Some dogs are completely fine with them, but I believe most aren't.

Here's a note from the SF SPCA: http://www.sfspca.org/news/020701_july4th.shtml

And one from the Humane Society of Silicon Valley:
http://www.hssv.org/LIBRARY/PDF/News/Shelter/hssv_fireworks_062705.pdf

[UTChick]

The neighborhood kids have already started with them this afternoon. Dexter is going crazy. I think it is mostly due to the fact that he was napping when they started. Last night some were being set off and he was fine. Lucky for Dex I have a paper due tomorrow so we will be home with him tonight.

[JamBray]

Luckily we live pretty set back from any main street, so there aren't too many fireworks that go off around here (and the ones that do the pets seem okay with), but as always all animals will be staying indoors tonight.

[Zelda Von Yitz]

There was a couple who had a summer house nearby ours when we were kids. Mary and Charlie had a wirehaired terrier. Wow, poor Timmy -- he'd bark nonstop all weekend long; those fireworks drove him berzerk.

[eli1126]

Thanks for the info. A friend of ours showed up last year at the fireworks with his police dog who made it through the show ok, only to bite a woman right after :eek: Our friend who doesn't use the best common sense when it comes to bringing the dog places, claimed it was the woman's fault for "startling" him.

Beth

[MLA]

Very good reminder. I have a friend who had this happen. She left her dogs with a friend while she was away for the holiday. Her friend left the dogs in his back yard while he went to work on July 4th night (he's a cop). Anyway, one of the dogs got so scared, she somehow managed to get out of the back yard (which has a 6-foot fence). A very nice couple found her running down a major street about 3 miles from the friend's house (on her way home) and picked her up. They took the dog to the vet because her paws were all cut up. Anyway, the poor puppy was fine, but pretty shaken up. Poor thing!

So, keep your pups inside this holiday!

[Katy]

I wish folks would really think this time of year. The hubby and I just went for awalk around the block and found a rottie that left her home. She was so scared she had her tail between her legs, was crawling to us piddling as she went. We managed to get her home (remembered where we'd seen her and saw their open gate) and put her back in.

By the time we made it halfway around the house, she let herself out again. We followed her, but she wouldn't come to us. We wound up losing her at some point. And now we're frantically worried she might get hit by a car (she didn't seem to know what to do when she was near one). A neighbor (whose yard we think she's hiding in) called the owners but was only able to leave a message. Poor thing.

[greenbunny]

Ok, so it's the 5th, but I'd like to add that any pets can get upset, not just dogs. My cat was really nervous and my neighbor's bird was also freaked out.

[Sherb]

Bump for tonight. (and the rest of the week.) My dog is already going nuts and he's an inside dog. It's going to be a loooonnng night. :rolleyes:

[maxandmolly]

The cats keep looking out the windows trying to figure out where the noise is coming from.

[Sherb]

Bumping this up so everyone can prepare.

The method that seems to work best for us is to crate our dog with two box fans nearby. The white noise seems to drown out the sounds of the fireworks.

We just make sure our cat gets the full dosage of her anti-anxiety meds leading up to any fireworks holiday.

[notkk]

Here is another thread with several calming techniques: Storm Anxiety (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=20567&highlight=storm+anxiety)

Our dog is terrified of storms and fireworks. He freaked out today when a kid popped a balloon in our general vicinity. Fortunately, you cannot see or hear any of the large fireworks displays from our home, we will only have to deal with the small-time fireworks in the neighborhood.

[artist]

If only people didn't set off so many of their own (usually illegal) fireworks! Seriously, they sound like bombs in my neighborhood! The fireworks show in my neighborhood I think is bigger then the actual city fireworks. We're going to be out of town and our pets will be safe at my parents' house, which is a much quieter neighborhood.

[chefker]

Ugh...my stupid neighbors have been lighting off firecrackers EVERY NIGHT since they had their graduation party 2 weeks ago! Not only does it scare the dog, it often wakes up the baby. Then I have a crying baby and a howling basset to deal with. :rolleyes:

They usually only light off like one package of firecrackers every night, but still.

Last year we were at a picnic on the 4th, and at night everyone lit off TONS of fireworks (which I wasn't expecting). I had my dog on a leash, but I had to hold onto him the whole time, he was scared and ready to bolt. This year, I'm going to sit in the car with my dog, or if it gets too bad, I'll simply go home early.

[KNK81]

this is so important to remind people. Thanks for posting it.

[maggieb]

My little baby (100lb Rhodesian Ridgeback) is up on my bed with me rignt now b/c our idiotic city starts popping firecrackers up to a week before the 4th and he is terrified. Seriously, we live in a VERY urban area and it's still legal to let off firecrackers. Insane.

[kam]

I HATE fireworks and this is one of the reasons I hate July 4th. Well, in my area, I hate June 30 - July 10. Argh!

[maxandmolly]

One year the kids across the street got a bunch of illegal fireworks from somewhere and had a raucous 4th of July in their driveway. It took us HOURS to find our cocker spaniel. He was petrified, and had burrowed himself under a pile of folded winter clothes in a corner of mom's closet, and snarled at anyone who came near him to try to coax him out-for almost TWO WHOLE DAYS.

[southerner]

time for the yearly bump

[jesvet]

Dammit, don't blow it for my blog entry tomorrow!! :D

[southerner]

Dammit, don't blow it for my blog entry tomorrow!! :D
My bad. Since I'm not in the cool kids club anymore, I didn't know ;)

[jesvet]

I just don't want it to suffer the sad fate of the Kwik e Mart blog entry- Plus I have a nifty You Tube video. But that's what we get for putting it up late. :D